Khartoum of confidence: Sudan's leader to arrive in Russia to meet with Putin

The head of the Sovereign Council of Sudan and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, will visit Moscow, the republic's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mohammed Sirraj, told Izvestia. The Sudanese diplomat added that al-Burhan is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The construction of a Russian naval base in Sudan may become one of the items on the negotiating agenda. The visit will take place on the occasion of the first Russian-Arab summit, which will be held in Moscow on October 15. The event will be an important milestone in Russia's relations with Arab countries and is intended to create a platform for strategic dialogue on key regional and global issues, from the Palestinian crisis and the situation in Syria to economic cooperation and scientific and technical cooperation.

Khartoum is counting on Moscow

The head of the Sovereign Council of Sudan and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, will attend the Russian-Arab summit, which will be held on October 15 in Moscow. This was reported to Izvestia by the republic's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mohammed Sirraj. According to him, a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected.

— Yes, Mr. Chairman will take part in the summit, and a bilateral meeting with Putin is expected, — the ambassador emphasized.

After two years of civil war, Sudan is facing the challenge of post-conflict reconstruction: infrastructure has been destroyed, millions of people have been displaced, and the economy remains unstable. Khartoum counts on Moscow as one of the key partners in this process.

Friendly relations between Moscow and Khartoum have a long history. Diplomatic relations were established back in 1956, and a significant number of Soviet military advisers worked in the republic. Russia's possible contribution to the stabilization of the country includes humanitarian aid and investments in strategic sectors.

A key element of the bilateral cooperation was the agreement on the establishment of a logistics center for the Russian Navy in Sudan. Moscow believes that the base will contribute to stabilization in the region and, as a result, attract foreign investment.

Base and level: Sudan expects Moscow's help in rebuilding the country

One of the elements of the partnership may be the creation of a support point for the Russian Navy on the shores of the Red Sea

The agenda of the Russian-Sudanese talks

Grigory Lukyanov, a senior lecturer at the Higher School of Economics and a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in an interview with Izvestia that the agenda of the Russian-Sudanese negotiation process has only expanded in the context of the ongoing internal political conflict in the African republic since 2023.

— Security issues have come to the fore, but the strategic importance of Sudan has not disappeared. This is an important state in the Red Sea basin, and therefore the construction of a Russian naval logistics center continues to be relevant," he stressed.

According to the expert, this is a long-term project that should strengthen Russia's presence on the African coast.

— The promotion of Russian political and economic interests in the context of global turbulence requires multiple entry points to the continent, which is of interest to both the state and business as a space for the promotion of Russian goods and services. However, all economic initiatives are closely linked to security risks. For a country like Sudan, the presence of an operating point could be a serious help in intensifying and expanding cooperation after the situation normalizes," said Grigory Lukyanov.

He also stressed that the bilateral relations between Moscow and Khartoum are not limited to military issues.

— There is an interest from Russian companies that have worked here before. Sudan is interested in rebuilding infrastructure, developing trade and economic contacts and educational programs. The Russian experience is in great demand here, and the participation of third Arab countries can give additional impetus to cooperation," the expert believes.

According to the expert, the regional agenda remains an important factor. It covers not only the internal conflicts in Sudan, but also issues related to the security of the Red Sea, the situation around the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as well as the crises in Libya and Chad. Sudan is interested in ensuring that its needs and interests are taken into account when building the policy of Russia and its partners,— Grigory Lukyanov summed up.

Russian-Arab Summit

The expected meeting between Putin and Burhan will take place within the framework of the first Russian-Arab summit in Moscow on October 15. The forum will be attended by representatives of Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as East African States belonging to the League of Arab States.

The main purpose of the summit will be to discuss the political and economic agenda, the new international order, as well as strengthening cooperation between Russia and the Arab world. The focus will be on regional conflicts and crises, including the Palestinian-Israeli one. The participants intend to discuss ways to end the fighting in Gaza and humanitarian support for the population.

Russia also expects to discuss the Syrian issue. Acting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to participate and discuss the restoration of infrastructure, investments and the involvement of international partners in post-war reconstruction.

The situation in Lebanon will not be ignored, where Moscow and the Arab capitals advocate compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and an end to violations by the Israeli side. Measures to strengthen security in Yemen and reduce the escalation between Israel and the Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) will also be discussed.

In addition to regional topics, global issues will be raised at the summit: the crisis in Ukraine, the development of trade and economic ties, new approaches to shaping the international financial and economic order, and scientific and technical cooperation between the countries.

The summit is intended to become a platform for strategic dialogue and the development of joint solutions to key international challenges, including the creation of security zones and sustainable cooperation in the Arab world.